Psalms Chapter 118 — A Song of Thanksgiving and Deliverance
Psalm 118 is a hymn of thanksgiving where the writer celebrates God's deliverance from distress and enemies, acknowledging that the LORD is their strength and song.
1Give thanks to the LORD,*LORD or GOD in all caps is from the Hebrew יהוה Yahweh except when otherwise noted as being from the short form יה Yah. for he is good,
2Let Israel now say
3Let the house of Aaron now say
4Now let those who fear the LORD say
5Out of my distress, I called on the LORD.†Hebrew: יה Yah
6The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid.
7The LORD is on my side among those who help me.
8It is better to take refuge in the LORD,
9It is better to take refuge in the LORD,
10All the nations surrounded me,
11They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me.
12They surrounded me like bees.
13You pushed me back hard, to make me fall,
14The LORD§Hebrew: יה Yah is my strength and song.
15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
16The right hand of the LORD is exalted!
17I will not die, but live,
18The LORD*Hebrew: יה Yah has punished me severely,
19Open to me the gates of righteousness.
20This is the gate of the LORD;
21I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me,
22The stone which the builders rejected
23This is the LORD’s doing.
24This is the day that the LORD has made.
25Save us now, we beg you, LORD!
26Blessed is he who comes in the LORD’s name!
27The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you.
29Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 118:6
“The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid.”
This verse expresses absolute confidence in God's presence as a remedy for human fear.
Psalms 118:24
“This is the day that the LORD has made.”
It is a well-known declaration of joy and recognition of God's hand in every moment.
Psalms 118:26
“Blessed is he who comes in the LORD’s name!”
This phrase is a traditional blessing used to welcome those who represent the LORD in the sanctuary.
Chapter Summary
Psalms Chapter 118 begins and ends with a call to give thanks to the LORD for His goodness and enduring mercy. The speaker recounts a time of great distress when enemies surrounded them like bees, but explains that calling upon the LORD brought salvation. The text emphasizes that it is better to take refuge in God than to trust in human leaders or princes. Throughout the chapter, the 'right hand of the LORD' is exalted for its power. A significant portion describes entering the 'gates of righteousness' and identifies a stone rejected by builders that has become the chief cornerstone. The assembly celebrates the day God has made, petitioning for success and blessing those who come in the name of the LORD. The chapter concludes by offering a sacrifice and reiterating God's light and eternal goodness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The text describes a stone cast aside by builders that eventually becomes the essential cornerstone. This serves as an illustration of how God chooses and elevates what others might overlook or reject.
The chapter highlights that human strength and political influence are unreliable in times of extreme distress. By contrast, the LORD is described as a dependable strength and a certain source of salvation.
The psalmist describes being surrounded by hostile nations that pushed hard to make them fall. The text uses the metaphor of swarming bees to depict the overwhelming nature of these enemies before divine intervention occurred.
The text describes these gates as the entrance through which the righteous enter to give thanks to the LORD. They are specifically identified as the 'gate of the LORD' in the following verse.
Study Note
Psalm 118 is historically classified as a 'Hallel' psalm, which is traditionally sung at the conclusion of the Passover meal to celebrate God's deliverance.
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